Today’s Readings:
Epistle: Ephesians 6:10-17
Gospel: Luke 18:35-43
Schedule of Services:
Saturday, January 20th, Great Vespers at 4pm.
Sunday, January 21st, Divine Liturgy at 10am. Hours begin at 9:40am.
Announcements:
-There is a council meeting today.
-Our Annual Parish Council Meeting will be held on Sunday, January 28th, after coffee hour. For those of us who are new to the parish, this is a full parish gathering, wherein parishioners are expected to be present to discuss the status and well-being of the parish. The snow date for the Annual Meeting is scheduled for February 4th.
-For the hopefully short time being, please, when donating to the food pantry, only bring canned goods (or simply feel free to continue donating gift-cards), until the issue is resolved. Thank you.
-The next Church school for children is scheduled to be held on Sunday, January 28th.
-Reminder that on the first Sunday of the month, since it is the parish’s past practice to sing Trisagion prayers for the departed, we will remember our departed parishioners. Indeed, we can always sing a “Memory Eternal” to our departed on Sundays, however, for those who want a Panikhida or a Trisagion (Prayers for the Departed), please schedule a time on Saturday before Vespers, or any other time during the week. For any special circumstances or needs, please see Fr. Tristan to schedule a time.
-Steve W. is currently residing at Hunterdon Care Center in Flemington, NJ. He is happy to welcome any visitors. His room number is C 120.
-Please text Robert Fisher at (609) 306-4714 if you would like to visit or are able to bring him to church. His address is 47 Lincoln Ave., Lambertville, NJ.
-Don’t forget the needy. Shop Rite gift cards or non-perishable foods are greatly appreciated.
Prayers for:
Departed: Michel, Teresa
Living: Elena, Janis, David, Robert, Karen, Steven, Archpriest Paul, Melissa, Stephen, Michele, Janet, Teresa, Irina, Victor; Metropolitan Onuphry and the faithful of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church; the suffering people and innocent victims of the Ukrainian/Russian war and those being persecuted; the suffering people of Yemen, Syria and Turkey; and the suffering victims of the war in Israel and Palestine.
Words for the Day
When people begin to praise us, let us hurry to remember the multitude of our transgressions, and we will see that we are truly unworthy of that which they say and do in our honor.
(St. John of the Ladder, Ladder, 22.42)
Do not say that faith in Christ alone can save you, for this is not possible if you do not attain love for Him, which is demonstrated by deeds. As for mere faith: "The demons also believe and tremble" (James, 2:19). The action of love consists in heartfelt good deeds toward one's neighbor, magnanimity, patience, and sober use of things.
(St. Maximus the Confessor, Chapters on Love, 1.39-40)
A passion is a contranatural movement of the soul or an irrational love, or an blindfold hatred toward any material thing, or because of it: for example, for food, or for women, or for riches, or for worldly glory, or any other sensible thing; or for the sake of such things, as in a senseless hatred for someone on account of the things mentioned above.
(St. Maximos the Confessor, Chapters on Love, 2.16)
Next Week’s Readings:
Epistle: Colossians 1:12-18. Brethren, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.
Gospel: Matthew 22:1-14. Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying, “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son, and sent his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding feast, but they would not come. Again he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.”’ But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his servants, treated them shamefully, and killed them. The king was angry, and he sent his troops and destroyed those murderers and burned their city. Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore to the main roads and invite to the wedding feast as many as you find.’ And those servants went out into the roads and gathered all whom they found, both bad and good. So the wedding hall was filled with guests. “But when the king came in to look at the guests, he saw there a man who had no wedding garment. And he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot and cast him into the outer darkness. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ For many are called, but few are chosen.”